The denim trend I'll be wearing 24/7 this season

I don’t know about you but I live in denim. I don’t have to go into an office so I don’t have much of a reason to wear anything else. Even for date night or dinner parties, I usually will dress up a pair of dark wash jeans with jewelry and high heels. This summer with the cool weather and lots of time spent in my car driving to baseball tournaments, I rotated between my distressed cropped light wash boyfriend jeans and my distressed cropped white skinny jeans. So adding a new pair to my rotation makes sense for the new season. Many of the season’s trendiest styles will work great to transition from the warmer weather to the cooler temperatures.

According to WhoWhatWear.com, there’s one denim trend that everyone from Kendall Jenner to Karlie Kloss will be adding to their chic wardrobes: cropped, stovepipe straight leg silhouette in a light wash. 

Tuesday on Bridge Street, I talked denim trends for fall with Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy. I featured great styles, all by Liverpool Jeans Company and found at The Changing Room on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse. CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

• Cropped styles are big!! The top trend according to WhoWhatWear.com is a cropped, straight leg silhouette.
• Cropped in wide leg and stovepipe too!
• Distressed light wash styles.
• High rise continues to be big.
• coated denim- kinda looks like leather which is a hot style for fall.
• colored denim and printed denim- great options to dress up!

Styling Tips:

1. Wear cropped styles with ankle booties for fall and winter.

2. Dress them up with strappy sandals or stiletto pumps.

3. The darker the wash, the dressier the look. Lighter washes tend to be more casual.

Thanks to my friends at The Changing Room for all the great styles featured on the show. The Changing Room has all these styles plus more at their boutique located at 425 Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse. Missed the segment? No worries. Click HERE to watch. 

Don't miss any of my style events & offers. Subscribe to my newsletter by clicking the button below and sharing your email with me. I hate spam so I promise not to give away your email to anyone or abuse the privilege of having you on my list.  

Let's Keep It Real This Summer

On Wednesday June 28th I was on Bridge Street on Channel 9 talking swimwear trends for 2017 with Tenesha Murphy. Our topic: the latest SWIMWEAR TRENDS FOR 2017 and how to realistically wear them if youare over 30 and not a model! Am I right? 

A one piece suit has been gaining popularity slowly over the past few years and at this point it is no longer a trend but is here to stay! The trick: making it look modern and not frumpy. The fact is that the more material and coverage you have, the bigger you look. Sorry to say. So how do you create the illusion of showing more skin but still get the coverage you want in all the right places. 

• CUT OUT ONE PIECES- side cut outs make it modern.
• OFF THE SHOULDER OR ONE SHOULDER- showing a little more skin, especially the shoulders, makes it sexy.
• RUFFLES
• LACE UP DETAILS- whether in the back, sides or a low cut neckline, lace up has the illusion of showing skin but also having some coverage.
• MINI-TEE- coverage for your arms in swimsuit but modern and fresh.

Still not on board with a one piece? That’s cool. You can still get support in a two piece:

• SHELF BRA/BRALETTE TOP- kinda like a sports bra, it give you support and comfort but it’s on trend.
• HIGH WAISTED BIKINI- got a little extra skin because you had a baby? No worries, give the high waisted bikini a try. But beware: this look can add material to an area you want to minimize, so it may not work on every body.

If you are like me and you’ve got your go-to suit already or you prefer to be more covered up, then incorporate the trends into your coverup! Crochet is big right now, or how about a cute one piece shortall/romper instead of your traditional cover up? 

Thanks to our friends at Lord & Taylor for all the great styles featured on the show, and they have an awesome swim sale going on right now. Missed the show? CLICK HERE to watch. What swim trend will you be rocking this summer? Tell me in the comments below.

Avoid the style pitfalls of aging

Today on Bridge Street, co-hosts Sistina Giordano, Tensesha Murphy and I talked about a topic that affects everyone:  avoiding the style pitfalls of aging. But I wasn’t giving tips on how to look younger or “ageless”. I truly do believe we should embrace our age, and that means our style needs to keep evolving. However, as we do we sometimes make a few mistakes that can age us or keep us from looking our best because we worry about being “age appropriate”. Whether you are 25 or 65, a guy or a girl, you want to check out today’s show by CLICKING HERE.

FIT IS EVERYTHING! If you take anything away from today I want it to be this. As we age, we tend to try to cover up more, wearing clothes that are too big, boxy or shapeless, and this can actually make us appear heavier. Fear of being frumpy is a real thing and wearing our clothes oversized is a sure way to do it. 

AVOID AN ILL FITTING BRA Ladies, I’ve mentioned this many times before, and I will say it again: a properly fitted bra will make your clothes fit better, you will stand taller and you will look better. It’s just a fact.

DON’T HIDE YOUR NECK Seems counterintuitive but covering up your neck with a turtleneck or bulky scarf can add pounds and sometimes be aging depending on your body type. Try wearing a v-neck top, a collared shirt or long necklace, which will draw attention away from your neck. 

WEARING ALL BLACK CAN BE HARSH It’s actually more flattering to wear a pop of color around your face, and try earth tones if you want to keep your look neutral.

AVOID TOO MUCH MAKEUP

AVOID GOING TOO LIGHT OR TOO DARK WITH YOUR HAIR COLOR

REMEMBER, style is an understanding of not only who you are but also the kind of image you want to project.

Missed today's show? No worries- watch it HERE. Thanks to our friends at The Changing Room on Warren Street in Downtown Syracuse for all the great styles shown on today’s show. Photos above from Instagram @WbyWorth and @WorthNewYork. What did you think of today’s show? Share with me in the comments below. Sign up for my newsletter to become part of my style community and receive more tips like these.

Menswear 101

You might be surprised to learn that the style advice I give to men and women is the same. Today on Bridge Street,  I shared that advice with co-hosts Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy. Clothing is a way to express your personal style so use it. Ask the salesperson for help- they have a lot of knowledge to share about fit and sizing, but go with your gut when it comes to your style. Don’t let them talk you into something you don’t feel comfortable with. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good. If you find a piece in a brand you love, buy it in several colors. My #1 pieces of advice is having a good tailor can make off the rack clothes looks custom.

Here’s some specific advice for menswear that will come in handy.

Shirts 101 Collars: Button down is more casual. Collars: Pointed spread collar is dressier. Fit: USE A TAILOR!

Pants 101 Pleats: When in doubt the answer is NO! It’s too hard to pull off. Gray is versatile. It goes with navy & black & colors. Denim: keep it plain in a dark wash. Leave the bedazzled pockets or distressed look for the weekends.

Accessories 101 This is where you can really express your personality. Ties or bowties: Choose fun patterns and bold colors. Did you see the bowties from today’s show? They are by J.Allen Inspired  and made right here in Central New York. You may have seen them worn by Jim Boeheim, Dan Patrick, Bob Costas and other celebrities. Shop online or order a custom design. Follow them at @jalleninspired on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for menswear inspiration. Shoes: invest in a good quality pair & take care of them Brown shoes & belt with navy, gray & blue Black shoes & belt with black & gray YES! You do need to match your shoes & belt!

If this is all too much or if you just don’t have the time to shop or you just don't WANT to shop, I have a solution: Stitch Fix for men. GENIUS! Just like the women’s service. You complete a style profile online, share a Pinterest board with Stitch Fix and a personal stylist chooses 5 high quality pieces that are delivered right to your door. It also comes with “how to wear” style cards. You can keep all or none- if you keep all 5 you receive 25% off your entire order. There’s a $20 styling fee that goes toward whatever you purchase. As a Stitch Fix Influencer, I will receive compensation if the afflilate link is used, but I would never endorse a product or service I did not like or use myself. You can schedule your first fix now by clicking HERE or on the banner on the right and at the bottom of this post.

A great resource for men is fromsqualortoballer.com, a blog written by Ian Anderson, a menswear buyer and style blogger based in San Francisco. His tagline is “Simple style advice for the modern man” and he covers every concern you might have about menswear from etiquette to styles to trends to best brands. The photography is fantastic and the copy is down to earth. You don’t need to be a metrosexual to follow his advice. I’d start with his “Best Of” section and let your menswear education begin. Thanks, Ian, on behalf of the ladies in this world.

What did you think of today’s Bridge Street segment? Missed it? CLICK HERE to watch it and then tell me what you think in the comments below.

The Mid-Winter Wardrobe Blues

Chances are you are getting bored wearing the same outfits and we aren’t even through January yet. The stores may be starting to show some spring styles, but it’s still mid-winter here in CNY. Today on Bridge Street, I talked with co-hosts Sistina Giordano and Tenesha Murphy about how to energize and refresh your winter wardrobe today by adding a few spring trends. I want you to feel inspired when you get dressed and extend the life of your winter wardrobe too Thank you to Lord & Taylor for all the fashions featured today.

TREND: FLORALS- So it seems obvious- florals for spring- but working them in with your winter wardrobe now will seem unexpected and fresh. HOW TO ADD IT NOW: Mix it with menswear style jacket or suit. I like the femininity of the floral blouse to balance a masculine look.

TREND: DUSTY ROSE/PINK & YELLOW continue to be hot colors. HOW TO WEAR IT NOW:  The BOMBER JACKET featured on today’s show in pink paired with jeans and booties. The jacket style is actually another spring trend so you get two for one.

TREND: KHAKI-  there are a lot of options out there, including the pieces featured today from Lord & Taylor. HOW TO WEAR IT NOW:  Because it’s a neutral you can wear it with almost anything.

TREND: STRIPES- 2 styles of stripes: SEASIDE STRIPES refers to the nautical look. Mix it up by choosing vertical stripes or going for a bright color like the red and white featured today. BANKERS STRIPES is a more classic stripe look, shown today in an updated oxford style top with statement sleeves. HOW TO WEAR IT NOW: Think about mixing styles. Instead of doing a nautical look head to toe, pair it with jeans and sneakers for a casual look. Or mix with something unexpected like a leather skirt.  Or layer a white oxford style shirt underneath.

TREND: BARE SHOULDER- This trend can also be incorporated in a double or single shoulder cutout or a flashdance style shoulder. HOW TO WEAR IT NOW: I featured a “cold shoulder” look today in a spring color. The nice thing is you can layer a jacket over the top to keep you warm, or go “bare shouldered” for a special event.

TREND: GRAPHIC PRINTS HOW TO WEAR IT NOW: A great way to incorporate this trend is with accessories, like the wristlet shown today.

What spring trends are you going to try? I’d love to see what you do with them. Share with me by posting on Instagram and tagging me @thesmalltownstylist. Which look from today’s show was your favorite? Missed the segment? That’s ok. Click here to watch and the tell me in the comments below or email me at thesmalltownstylist@gmail.com.

Thanks to Lord & Taylor in Destiny USA for all these great styles featured today. All images used in this post are from Lord & Taylor Instagram account @lordandtaylor.

Finding the perfect holiday look for any budget. “You go high and I’ll go low”

The holidays means parties and get togethers. It’s a busy time of the year. Whether it’s an office party or Christmas Gala, you want to look stylish and festive this season. Whether you want to treat yourself to a special outfit or you are on a budget, the perfect festive look is out there for you. Today on Bridge Street, with some help from Skaneateles 300 owner Geraldean, I shared my tips with co-hosts Sistina and Tenesha on just how to do it. Tip: When you are on a budget, look for pieces that have interesting details to make them feel special and  mix textures to add interest to your outfit. In many cases, you can get away with faux leather pants because you are wearing them layered with other pieces rather than investing in an expensive pair of real leather pants. 

Today on the show we featured a red lace dress that is a steal! What makes it special is the festive color and the nude slip underneath that gives the illusion of showing skin but you are actually covered. Pair it with a pair of great pumps and pretty makeup for your dressy holiday party.

Tip: If you decide to splurge on your holiday look, make sure it’s something you can wear again. 

Of course when choosing an outfit for the show I gravitated for the high-end item- the simplest things usually are the most expenseive, right? I loved the long sleeve dress with mesh detail at the neckline so it shows some skin but there’s coverage. Paired with fun tights and booties, this is a great holiday look.

Tip: Mixing expensive pieces with lower priced options is smart, and makes a look more interesting. 

How cute was Sistina in that black fit and flare dress. I love that it has structure but also the flare of the skirt adds the softness. This pieces was priced mid-range, but also something you can wear later, mixing it with an item you probably already own like  a demin jacket and ankle moto boots. Cute.

Tip: To get the most out of your splurge pieces, try to choose classic items that you can keep and use for years. Keep the very trendy pieces cost efficient so you don’t feel badly about only wearing them once for a party.

Tenesha, like me, chose a splurge piece. But with it’s modern silhouette and utilitarian pockets, it has longevity and versatility. She wore it with pumps and looked “vavavoom” for a black tie event. But for an office party she can pair it with a cropped black jacket and flats to still be chic but less dressy.

Tip: A great way to dress up your look for a party is to change up your accessories.

The cross body bags and clutches that Geraldean showed today are great because the gold chain can dress up your outfit but your an also use them every day if you want, so you can get more use out of them beyond your party. A fun funky pair of shoes will add style to a simple black cocktail dress. Unique necklaces also dress up a simple dress or outfit and help to express your personality in a fun and festive way. The cute flower chocker we showed today is only $38 and can also be worn as a broach. Fun.

A holiday party give us a chance to play dress up for a night so make the most of it and have fun!  Thanks to Geraldean for being a party of today’s holiday segment. Check out Skaneateles 300 for all these great styles featured today. You can even shop online at skaneateles300.com. I like to follow them on Instagram here for inpsiration.

Missed the show today? Click  here to watch now. Be sure to follow me too on Instagram for more holiday fashion inspiration throughout the season, and tag me in your holiday party photos so I can see the fun and festive holiday outfits you chose for your get together this season. Happy holidays!